Headlining Tonight: Sylvain Chomet and Jacques Tati's The Illusionist (2010)

Tonight’s headlining film is Sylvain Chomet’s The Illusionist which unites the fantastical storytelling of two greats of French-language cinema, Sylvain Chomet and Jacques Tati.



Chomet’s latest film brings to life an unproduced script from the beloved Jacques Tati. Written in 1956, it tells the story of a struggling magician in rural Scotland and his friendship with a young girl who believes his magic to be real (apparently the story is autobiographical, as Tati was trying to reunite with his estranged daughter at the time.) Tati, best known for his films Playtime and Mon Oncle, had a remarkable ability to comment on the complexities of human interaction in stark, modern settings, in a whimsical and comedic way. Certainly, it will be interesting to see a new work from Tati, but also a story that is set outside of his comfort zone (of modernizing post-war France) and telling a story that is perhaps a little more dramatic and heartfelt (and autobiographical) than his previous works.



I anticipate his whimsical approach will marry perfectly with Chomet’s fantastical storytelling. Chomet’s Les Triplettes des Belleville was the most memorable animated film of the decade, combining a folktale, an incredible score, and beautiful animation. While the two directors have their differences in style, they both have crafted richly detailed films that express a magical quality.

If you are unfamiliar with the previous films of these two directors, I have a sneaking suspicion that this will be a fantastic introduction. And if you are a fan of Chomet and Tati, grab a ticket! This is a unique opportunity to see a new work from Tati, and to see a collaboration between two great directors, over 50 years in the making.

The Illusionist (2010) plays tonight at Eau Claire Market at 7:30pm.

As Perfect As The Great Romantic Poets' Verse

Bright Star is one of the most beautiful films I have ever seen. Breathtaking, spellbinding, a cinematic work of art with each painterly scene worthy of a Renaissance period frame and a gallery installation. Masterfully lit, meticulously decorated, with costumes and art direction that draws you into the early 19th century; it is certain to see many nods from the Academy.

In fact, Bright Star is already winning accolades for the Writer/Director, Australian filmmaker Jane Campion. The film earned her a nomination for a second Palme d'Or at Cannes (Campion is the only woman to have won the award - for The Piano in 1994 - for which she also took home the Best Original Screenplay Oscar.)

Based on Andrew Morton's book about poet John Keats (Ben Wishaw) and his love for the youthful Fanny Brawne (Abbie Cornish) and inspired by the poem Keats wrote for his muse; the title of which is the first verse:

Bright star, would I were steadfast as thou art -
Not in lone splendour hung aloft the night
And watching, with eternal lids apart,
Like nature's patient, sleepless Eremite,
The moving waters at their priest-like task
Of pure ablution round earth's human shores,
Or gazing on the new soft-fallen mask
Of snow upon the mountains and the moors -
No - yet still steadfast, still unchangeable,
Pillowed upon my fair Love's ripening breast,
To feel for ever its soft fall and swell,
Awake for ever in a sweet unrest,
Still, still to hear her tender-taken breath,
And so live ever - or else swoon in death.

Campion has crafted an exquisite love story which is a powerfully emotional journey of devotion and longing. Its narrative is palpable, especially through the sincerity and dismay portrayed by the coquettish Cornish (Heath Ledger's Candy co-star) whose character is at once feisty and helpless. It is a feast for the eyes and as lyrical as poetry for the soul. Not to be wasted on home viewing, see Bright Star at the theatre.

(Diane Bennett is covering Events, Headliners & Music on Film)

Closing Gala Awards Highlight Of The Night

After having had the opportunity to listen to three of the Mavericks Filmmakers talk about the Art of Directing during the morning Industry Panel presentation yesterday, it was all the more exciting to see one of them win CIFF's top prize at the Closing Gala last night.

Writer and Critic Geoff Pevere, Head Juror of the Mavericks series, spoke of the attributes this award celebrates, prior to naming the winning director and film.

"Freshness of vision and creation of its' cinematic language, for vitality of its' expression and the reward it offers to viewers who rise to its' challenges; embodying the spirit of fearless originality and trailblazing optimism, it defines the essence of the Maverick spirit. The inaugural 2009 Mavericks Award goes to Chris Chong Chan Fui for Karaoke."

Production Still from Karaoke

The filmmaker, was speechless when he accepted the award, consisting of a trophy and a cheque for $25,000 - the largest prize of its kind from a Canadian Film Festival.

Chris Chong with CIFF's Trevor Smith and Jacqueline Dupuis

Chong says he completed Karaoke in about 5-months, although he had been thinking about making the movie for a couple of years. During the industry panel discussion the writer/director said the subtext of his film is deception. Chong used his actors much like props and felt they were one of the least significant aspects of the production, noting he left them in the dark about the vision he had for the film. The director added he only needed professional actors so they would be on time and not talk on set.

Although Chong said he was very regimented when making the film - carefully plotting each scene on an excel spreadsheet and following a distinct three act structure - fellow Mavericks filmmaker Nicolas Perada (Juntos) said the Karaoke director was probably the only one who viewed his film this way, noting it had a very loose style.

The Borneo-born, and sometime Torontonian, filmmaker has previously won two of TIFF’s Canadian short-film prizes. Karaoke was also selected for the 2009 Cannes Directors’ Fortnight (which is rare for a first-time feature film to show at Cannes) after having been selected exclusively for the script clinic at the 2007 Berlin International Film Festival.

The Best Of Alberta (Shorts) Award was also presented at the Closing Gala to Calgary-based Writer/Actor/Director Karen Hines for A Tax On Pochsy, the latest installment in the series featuring Hines as the amusing character Pochsy, with the distinct style of a silent film star.

Karen Hines accepts her award from NFB's David Christensen

A Tax On Pochsy is a romp which tackles serious issues like pollution and child labour with a witty, whimsical delivery by the delightfully funny Pochsy whom, it seems, is developing a cult-status in Canadian cinema as Hines alter-ego.

Production Still from A Tax On Pochsy

CIFF named High Life the Best Canadian Feature film (Gary Yates, Writer/Director). It's an outrageous comedy about a motley crew of petty criminal morphine addicts who decide to step up their game with a bank heist. (Not your average Canadian stoner movie.) The hilarious antics of these Pulp Fiction-esque characters, set to a 70's soundtrack featuring classic rockers April Wine, make this a nostalgic bit of Canadiana, even if the filmmaker tries to pass off the location as anywhere USA.

Other winners announced were:

• Can Go Through Skin, Special Mention New Voices in Fiction
• Katalin Varga, Best International Feature
• 45365, Special Mention: New Voices In Documentary
• Tibet Song, Best Documentary Feature
• Dans Macabre, Programming Selection
  Outstanding Achievement
• 12 Notes Down, Best Documentary Short

(Diane Bennett is covering Events, Headliners & Music on Film)

Cooking with Stella

Last nights headliner, “Cooking with Stella” was a full house. I arrived early, as did many others who anxiously waited in the cool brisk weather hoping to get their hands on the limited seats available at the door.

Cooking with Stella is directed by Dilip Mehta, brother of Deepa Mehta, who co-wrote the story. You may remember Deepa Mehta from Fire, and Water, two stellar films that made a mark on the screen addressing taboo topics in the Indian community.

Cooking with Stella was a light hearted story about a diplomat played by Lisa Ray, and her husband Michael (Don McKellar) who is a chef. Maya’s position moves her and the family to Delhi. With the move come many perks, such as servants. Stella is the Cook, who we come to love, but question her strange loyalty. Michael talks Stella into being his Indian Cooking Guru. While Stella teaches Michael to cook she schemes up some interesting recipes to change her own life.

The cast was full of talented people. Stella played by Seema Biswas, who we remember as Phoolan Devi in 1994’s Shekhar Kapur’s must see Bandit Queen. Don McKellar made us see the gentle yet frustrated character of Micheal. The Nanny, Shriya Saran is a well known Tamil/ Telugu actress from Tollywood (a close cousin of the Bollywood industry). Maya played by Lisa Ray who we know from Bollywood/Hollywood has worked with Deepa Mehta before in Water. Lisa Ray who has recently been diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma has been undergoing Chemotherapy. I wanted to share a few words from Lisa Ray’s blog http://lisaraniray.wordpress.com/ in response to the cancer recently discovered:

“For me, it was a relief to hear what was wrong. The plasma cells in my bone marrow were rampaging, multiplying, squeezing out the red blood cells and it was time to begin doing something about it. I was also tired of being tired all the time. And you just know when something is not kosher with your body. So when I sat there with Bobcat- my life partner and reservoir of Yellow- and got the news I didn’t react and I didn’t cry. I’m an actress, believe me, I can be dramatic. Not just then though."

A Star Is Born!

An Education had its screening last night and it was clear to see why there is so much early "Oscar" talk about the star of the film. Carey Mulligan plays a 16-year old prep-school girl, Jenny, opposite Peter Sarsgaard (Elegy) as the 30-something seducer, David, who lures her with his sports car, lavish lifestyle and air of excitement.

Mulligan is a fresh new face on the film scene who made her debut alongside Keira Knightley in Pride and Prejudice. The 24-year old British actress was the darling of the Sundance Film Festival and has been compared to Ellen Page and Audrey Hepburn. She makes me think of Katie Holmes and even Sally Field in her youth.

You may have seen Mulligan in smaller roles, earlier this year, with Johnny Depp in Public Enemies and Jake Gyllenhaal in Brothers. Truly, she belongs in the limelight. Regardless, Carey Mulligan is about to become a household name. This is her breakout role. Her charm and allure carry the film, which was based on a memoir written by Lynn Barber, adapted for the screen by Nick Hornby (About A Boy).

The movie is light-hearted fare that should be required viewing for families with teenage daughters as the plot resonates with the glamorized life youth are sold today in popular culture of getting it all without earning it - but at what price?

This a coming of age story set in London, 1961, which - on the surface - looks like Guess Who's Coming To Dinner - the debut film for Katharine Hepburn's niece, Katharine Houghton (1967) which never materialized into a movie career for the stage actress. However, An Education is more like The Grifters (1990) - perhaps with a bit of Mona Lisa Smile (2003) thrown in for perspective.

(Diane Bennett is covering Events, Headliners & Music On Film)

Cairo Time - Painstakingly Slow

Recently named the Best Canadian Feature Film at TIFF, Cairo Time is a cinematic change of pace. It is a decidedly thoughtful film. The characters are quiet, polite and considerate with refined performances from Patricia Clarkson (Vicky Cristina Barcelona) and Alexander Siddig (Syriana).

This may be a difficult film for a Type A personality to sit through. If you are, on the other hand, patient, relaxed, easy-going and generally lacking any sense of urgency - in other words, Type B - you will welcome this movie with a sigh of relief!

Another reason not to attend if you are time-conscious, concerned about your status, highly competitive or have difficulty relaxing is, technically, this film is sold out; there will only be a limited number of seats available at the door for the lucky few in the rush line.

So, don't fret if you're a Type A and you get turned away at the doors tonight, Cairo Time will have a wider release. It opens in Theatres across Canada on Friday October 9th. You can rush out and see it then (because you know you're right and I'm wrong about whether this is a film for you.)

Type B, you can relax in the line-up tonight, even if you don't have tickets but want to take a chance on seeing it anyway. Cairo Time is playing at 7:00 pm in the Globe Theatre - Upstairs. No worries if you don't get one of the few remaining seats though, just pencil it into your book for something to do on Thanksgiving weekend.

If you want a sneak peek, check out this link:

http://www.cairotime.ca/html/trailer/

(Diane Bennett is covering Events, Headliners & Music On Film)

Encore Screening of "Tetro" Not To Be Missed

The first original screenplay by Francis Ford Coppola in two decades, Tetro introduces us to Alden Ehrenreich (who is like a young Leonardo DiCaprio) in the pivotal role of Bennie, younger brother to the enigmatic Tetro, (Vincent Gallo.)

Originally, Coppola wanted Matt Dillon in the title role, whom he had directed in Rumble Fish and The Outsiders - two films in which teen angst and the bonds of brotherhood were central themes - however, the casting of Gallo and Ehrenreich is a perfect pairing.

Set in Beunos Aires, Argentina the film is shot beautifully in black and white. It is predominantly in English with subtitles when Spanish or Italian is spoken. The editor was Walter Murch who has collaborated with Coppola on many occasions including the Oscar winning film Apocalypse Now in which Murch won an Oscar for Best Editor, often awarded in tandem with the Best Picture, although the film didn't win any Oscar's for Coppola's Screenplay or Direction. (It lost to Kramer vs. Kramer in 1979. Also nominated was All That Jazz, a film with the same kind of feel as Tetro has with an artsy edge.)

Tetro is loosely based on the life of Coppola who, like the title character in the film, is the son of a famous Composer and conductor. He has been quoted as saying his own father-son relationship was complicated but loving, unlike the one Tetro had with his father. Carmine Coppola had a strong working relationship with his son and scored the music for Apocalypse Now and the Godfather Trilogy, winning Best Music, Original Dramatic Score for Part II. Also, unlike the film's namesake, Coppola keeps close family ties. Sister, Talia Shire and daughter, Sophia Coppola, were cast in the Godfather.

The suffering mind of the writer Tetro is what propels the film's plot, however, writing is more natural for Coppola. In an interview (June 11, 2009) with Carla Hay on the Examiner.com, he is quoted as saying writing still is easy for him, even after all these years:

"I think what surprised me was once you get on the train of writing, so to speak, how much it does it automatically. I have this little rule when I write: Firstly, it’s important to sit down every day, at least six days a week, at least four hours a day, at a time that’s regular for you … So your muse knows where you’ll be, or otherwise they won’t show up."

"I like [writing] in the morning. No one’s hurt my feelings yet with any horrible phone calls. I just like a clean sheet of paper. And then I start. I have a rule not to read any of the pages I do...And then when I have 80 to 100 pages or whatever the story seems to have concluded, I first relax and then I read it."

"I’m always surprised. Usually, there are very good things and very terrible things. I would’ve been discouraged if I read the terrible things [earlier]. That’s when I make note of what I’m going to do with the rewrite, and then I begin the rewrite process."

The encore screening of Tetro is Saturday October 3, 2009 at 9:15 pm at the Eau Claire Market - Cineplex Odeon - Screen 5.

(Diane Bennett is covering Events, Headliners & Music on Film)

There's more to the picture than meets the eye...

Rock Prophecies sets the bar high for guitarists and the Rock Doc genre alike, bringing a bygone era of seminal superstars back into focus through pictures, music, anecdotes and interviews. Enter the world of the Rock Gods, as seen through the eyes of Robert Knight, fabled photographer of Guitar Legends.

Whether you believe Jeff Beck is best or you're into Kenny Wayne Shepherd (one of the fastest selling white bluesmen since Eric Clapton) there's something for every rock and blues fan in this film. With the price of admission you'll get an all-access backstage pass following Knight, as the protagonist, as he seeks to find the embodiment of his foil (the late, great Stevie Ray Vaughn) in the next generation of guitar virtuosos.

40-years of shooting industry icons sets the tone for the new generation of axe men, like Chris Iorio from Adelita's Way and Sick Puppies' Shimon Moore, blowing across the frets and bending the strings. (Rock 'n Roll will never die!) But it is the phenomenal Tyler Dow Bryant, a Texan born 6-months after the Double Trouble front man’s death, which gives this movie its mystique.

Filmmaker John Chester (Director, Cinematographer and Editor) will be in attendance, along with Knight. Showtime is 7:30 pm at Eau Claire Market - Cineplex Odeon - Screen 5. Afterwards, use your ticket to attend an exclusive CIFF Event, the VW Rock N' Roll Red Carpet Party. Shine up your hobnailed boots and put on your patchwork jeans, or find something fashionably fierce to wear, then let down your hair. As Almost Famous 'band aide' Penny Lane would say: "it's all happening" at the Barley Mill in Eau Claire, following the screening.

(Diane Bennett is covering Events, Headliners & Music On Film)